Tire-tightener.



No. 700,490. Patentqd may 20, I902.

I F. HEINZ.

'[lRE TIGHTENEB.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

YHE Nana's PETERS do. rhurou'mu. wuumumm p. 12.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

FRANZ I-IEINZ, OF GOODINTENT, KANSAS.

TIREeTIG HT-EN ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 700,490, dated May 20, 1902.-

Application filed January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,054. (No model.)

clare the following to bea full, clear, and eX act description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it ap-.

pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a tire-tightener.

' The object is to provide asimple, cheap, and

effective device for expanding the felly, so; as to snugly fit the tirewithout the necessity of cutting the tire or even removing it from the wheel.

To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several elements ofthe device, as will be hereinafter more fully-described, and particularly pointed out in the'claim.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference charactersindicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wagon wheel, showing my improved tire-tightener in position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken longitudinally through the tightening device. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The numeral 1 denotes-the tire, and 2 the felly, the meeting ends of which are capped? or encompassed by the malleable-iron sock-i ets 3 3, the inner faces of which are provided with -alined and oppositely or reversely spondingly-threaded bolt 5, which is formed with a'centrally-disposed head 6, the arrange-- ment being such that'when the said bolt is turned in one direction the sockets willbe brought together and when the bolt is turned in the opposite direction the sockets will be forced away from eachot-her. Each socket is formed with a's1it7, and a. clamping-bolt 8 passes transversely through each socket, so as to extend at right angles through said slit. By means of this slit 7 the sockets may be forced open, so as to be easily slipped over use. shrinks'and the tire becomes loose all that is snugly and tightly thereon by means of the clamp-bolts 8. The sockets may thus be used for different-sized fellies. I

In using the invention a small piece is cut oif of each of the meeting ends of the felly and the sockets adjusted tothe meeting ends, the bolt in the meantime having been adjusted so that the inner ends of the sockets The tire is now shrunk on the wheel in the usual'man ner, and the latter is now ready for In the course of time when the felly necessaryto do is to turn the bolt 5, so as to ing ends of the felly, apart, thereby expanding the shrunken felly and causing it to the clamping-bolts 8 8. arenow tightened up bolt, thereby preventing its working 100s and allowing thefelly to contract.

the ends of the felly and then made to fit.

are brought as close together as possible.

force the sockets, and consequently the meet- I snugly fit thetire. This having been done,

In the accompanyin g drawings I haveshown my invention in the best form now known to me; but various changes in the details may be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from the spirit of my inivention as set forth in the claim.

' Having thus fully described mynnvention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

isa A tire tightener comprising metal sockets to receive the meeting ends of a wood felly and an oppositely-threaded bolt the opposite ends of which are seated in correspondinglythreaded apertures in the adjacent end walls of the sockets; said sockets being split and provided with transverse clamping bolts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit= 

